News Discussion

The Harajuku Sweets Turning Takeshita Street into a Stage

Once a neighborhood that embodied the latest trends of youth culture, Harajuku in Tokyo is now a destination bustling with tourists from around the world.

Crepes and cotton candy — the colorful sweets that brighten Takeshita Street—have become must-try, photo-worthy treats for inbound visitors. People walking along the narrow street often have a dessert in one hand and a smartphone in the other, snapping photos and posting them on social media right away.

Ori and Tamar, visiting Japan for the first time from Israel, smiled as they bit into their crepes. "In Israel, crepe toppings are simple — just chocolate, usually. Japan's toppings are so much more varied — it's wonderful," they said.

Nearby, a family gathered around a giant cotton candy, all reaching out at once. "I've never seen cotton candy this big and colorful in the United States — it's perfect for sharing. I sent a picture to my friends right away," said Nathan Hayden, a visitor from the United States, grinning. For many tourists today, sharing online often comes before eating.

In Harajuku, the line between performer and audience is blurred. Both taking photos and being photographed are part of the sightseeing experience. The entire neighborhood becomes a stage, with crepes and cotton candy serving as sweet little props in this ongoing performance.

1. 1. destination　目的地、行き先
   Our main destination on our trip to Canada was Lake Louise.
2. 2. post　（SNSなどに）投稿する
   Haruka posted her opinion to a news website.
3. 3. topping　（料理などの）トッピング
   The toppings on my pizza included pepperoni, onion, mushrooms, and green pepper.
4. 4. varied　 多様な、変化に富んだ
   Clothing styles in the city are often much more varied than in the countryside.
5. 5. ongoing　進行中の、続いている
   Research on influenza vaccines is ongoing because viruses are always changing.

1. 1. What two items have become popular on Takeshita Street in Harajuku?
2. 2. What two things can you often see tourists doing as they walk along Takeshita Street?
3. 3. Why were the visitors from Israel so happy with the crepes?
4. 4. What toppings would you like to put on a crepe?
5. 5. How important is it to you to take photos of the food you eat? Why?

かつて若者文化やファッションの最先端を象徴する街だった東京・原宿。だが近年は、インバウンドが押し寄せる「国際的な観光地」としての地位が強まっている。

クレープ、綿あめ…竹下通りを彩る甘い名物は、今や外国人客の写真撮影に欠かせない「映えアイテム」だ。歩道を行き交う人々の片手にはスイーツ、もう一方の手にはスマートフォンがあり、シャッター切ってすかさずSNSに投稿していく姿もみられる。

イスラエルから初来日したオリさんとタマルさんは笑顔でクレープを頰張っていた。「イスラエルのクレープのトッピングはチョコなどシンプルなもの。日本はトッピングが豊富で、とてもいい」と話す。

巨大な綿あめを囲み、家族が一斉に手を伸ばす。

「こんなに大きくカラフルな綿あめはアメリカでは見たことがない。家族で分け合うのにぴったりだよ。さっそく写真を友達に送った」とアメリカから訪れたネイサン・ヘイデンさんは笑顔を見せた。食べる前に〝発信〟するのが、今の観光だ。

スイーツだけではない。豪華な食品サンプルがずらりと並ぶショーケースも、外国人客にとって魅力あふれる観光スポットだ。ある女性はじっくり眺めてカメラに収め、男性はクレープを片手に自撮りを楽しんでいた。原宿では、食べ物も人も風景も等しくレンズに収められる。

誰が主役で、誰が脇役かは曖昧だ。原宿では「撮る」ことも「撮られる」ことも観光の一部。街全体が舞台装置となり、旅の記録はSNSの中で完成する。クレープや綿あめは、甘い小道具として今日も消費され続けている。